The NFL play-offs have been thrown into chaos after Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix suffered a season-ending ankle injury just moments before his side secured a 33-30 win over Buffalo and a berth in the AFC Championship game.<\/p>\n
Nix broke his right ankle late in overtime of the Broncos’s divisional-round victory over Buffalo and will have surgery that will sideline him for the rest of the play-offs.<\/p>\n
Coach Sean Payton delivered the stunning news about his second-year quarterback in the aftermath of Denver’s biggest win in a decade.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Backup Jarrett Stidham, who’s 1-3 as a starter in six seasons, will start the AFC championship game against either Houston or New England next weekend.<\/p>\n
“Stiddy’s ready,” Payton said after returning to the post-game lectern to discuss the injury following Denver’s 33-30 victory over Josh Allen and the Bills.<\/p>\n
Payton said Nix got hurt on a keeper where he lost 2 yards and was tackled by safety Cole Bishop. Nix was limping after the play, but there was no indication that he suffered such a serious injury.<\/p>\n
On the next play, Nix threw a deep pass to Marvin Mims Jr. that drew a 30-yard pass-interference flag and got the Broncos well into field-goal range. Nix then took a knee to centre the ball for Wil Lutz’s game-ending 23-yard field goal.<\/p>\n
The defeat was a heartbreaker for Buffalo, whose post-season woes continue.<\/p>\n
Despite boasting reigning MVP Josh Allen, the Bills have yet to make a Super Bowl since 1994.<\/p>\n
Allen, who threw for 283 yards and three touchdowns but also had four turnovers via two interceptions and two fumbles, was in tears after the match.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“It’s extremely difficult,” Allen said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“I feel like I let my teammates down tonight. There were missed opportunities throughout the game. I hate how it ended. It’s going to stick with me for a long time.”<\/p>\n